PM spends £30,000 on flat upgrades

Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron talk before having tea in the private residence at Downing Street (Lawrence Jackson/The White House/PA)
12 April 2012

David Cameron has spent the entire £30,000 budget available to him annually for upkeep and improvements to his Downing Street flat, it has emerged.

Officials stressed that the costs charged to the taxpayer did not cover furniture, fixtures and fittings, but things like electrics, plumbing, structural alterations and decorating.

Additional costs in the refit of the flat at Number 11 - where the Camerons live with their three children - beyond the £30,000 publicly funded allowance were met by the family.

But the Prime Minister was accused by a Labour MP of failing to lead by example when the public sector is facing massive cuts.

The first pictures of a new kitchen installed in the flat emerged this week when Mr Cameron's wife Samantha showed the US First Lady Michelle Obama her home.

Tom Watson, a Labour backbencher, claimed that Downing Street had refused his requests for more detailed information about the refurbishment costs.

"Good prime ministers lead by example," he told the BBC. "David Cameron says the public sector should tighten belts and come clean where taxpayers' money is spent. Yet when it comes to the Downing Street flat, we see a refusal to answer even basic questions on costs. He has now been forced to admit it cost at least £30,000 to refurbish his grace and favour home - more than a policeman's salary. Are we really all in this together?"

It has also emerged that another £653,192.34 was spent last year on the offices and reception rooms of Downing Street. It included external and internal renovation work, including cabling, plumbing and energy efficiency improvements.

Number 10 said that the programme of work to the official Downing Street quarters had been set in train by the previous Labour government. A spokesman said: "This programme of work is still ongoing. Downing Street is a Grade I listed building. As such it requires a certain level of maintenance. The Prime Minister has paid for changes to the flat out of his own pocket, beyond the annual maintenance budget threshold."

Similar figures were spent on the flat by Mr Cameron's predecessor as prime minister, Gordon Brown. He spent £28,150 in 2007/8, £27,083 in 2008/09 and £29,389 in 2009.10.

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